2 Corinthians 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?
DO we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some, commendatory letters to you, or commendatory letters from you?
2 You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:
Ye are our letter written in our hearts, acknowledged and read of all men:
3 Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart.
because ye are manifestly seen to be the letter of Christ, of which we have been the secretaries, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone, but on the fleshly tables of the heart.
4 And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.
And such confidence have we through Christ towards God:
5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.
not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account any thing of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.
6 Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.
Who hath made us also able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
7 Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:
For if the ministry of death in letters graven on stone, was attended with glory, so that the children of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed upon the countenance of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance, though soon evanescent;
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?
how much more will not the ministry of the Spirit be attended with glory?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.
For if the ministry of condemnation is glory, much more doth the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.
10 For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For that which was glorious hath no glory, comparatively, because of the glory which excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is in glory.
For if that which was abolished came in a glorious manner, much more is that which remaineth glorious.
12 Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence:
Having therefore such a hope, we use much freedom of speech.
13 And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.
And act not as Moses who spread a veil over his face, in order that the children of Israel might not look stedfastly to the end of that which should be abolished.
14 But their senses were made dull. For, until this present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remaineth not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).
But their understandings were darkened: for unto this day the same veil in their reading the old testament abideth unremoved; which veil is taken away by Christ.
15 But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
For unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is spread over their hearts.
16 But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
Nevertheless, when Israel shall turn unto the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is a Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.
And we all with face unveiled, beholding the glory of the Lord reflected as in a mirror, according to the same image, receive a transformation from glory into glory, as by the Lord, the Spirit.
